Ok. So I know what you all are thinking. Where the HECK has Sarah been, and why hasn't she updated in like FOREVER. Well, I have no good excuse. It was a combination of writer's block, and a severe lack of time. So I apologize, I really do. I hope that this chapter will make up for it. Also, I would suggest going back and reading the last one or two chapters of this story, just so you remember what's going on. Because even I forgot what I had written. Anyways, I hope you all like this chapter... please read and review! Oh, and there's a rather unpleasant swear word, so maybe rate this PG-13+. Just to be safe. Enjoy!

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Chapter 7: Gone

Sydney had been gone for ten days, another mission for Sloane. As soon as she had gotten back from the resort, Sloane had given her a plane ticket to Bangladesh. There hadn't been time to give a countermission in person, and I had been forced to brief her over the phone. Our conversation had been short, and we finished just as she stepped onto the plane.

I hadn't gotten the chance to tell her I loved her, to remind her to be careful. Of course, she knew both of these things well, but I had wanted to tell her. If not for her peace of mind, then for my own.

I sighed, pushing back the anxiety that always showed up when she was away. I had a bad feeling about this mission—I had since the moment Sloane had beeped Sydney at the resort. It had all been so sudden—so rushed. She hadn't been as prepared for the countermission as she would like to have been. I could hear it in the tenseness of her voice over the phone.

I knew she would be fine. She always was. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

I glanced impatiently at my watch, then at the clock mounted on the far wall of CIA headquarters. Sydney was due to check in around 8pm. Still a couple hours to go. I had stuck around late that night, hoping she would show up earlier than expected, but that obviously wasn't going to happen.

Finally, I decided to head home. It wasn't like I was getting anything done, anyways.

I caught Weiss's eye across the room, gesturing that I was leaving. He nodded and began to rise from his chair, but stopped as his phone began to ring. He rolled his eyes at me, and waved goodbye before reaching down and grabbing the phone before it rang again.

I quickly threw a stack of papers into my briefcase, knowing that I would need some serious reading material tonight to keep my mind off of Sydney. Grabbing my car keys, I headed down the hallway to the exit.

As I opened the door to the parking garage, I heard footsteps approaching behind me.

"Vaughn! Hold up!" I recognized Weiss's voice, and turned to see him running up to me.

"What's up, Eric?" I asked, slightly confused at the expression on his face.

"I just got off the phone," he said, pausing to catch his breath. "You might not want to leave just yet."

"What? Why?" I looked at him suspiciously. Weiss was more than well-known for his practical jokes around the office, and I was all too familiar with the results of those jokes. He had embarrassed me more times than I liked admit.

"Listen, man. I need you to stay calm, ok?" Weiss continued, his face serious.

I laughed. "Eric, if this is another one of your jokes-" Weiss cut me off.

"It's Sydney, Mike."

I froze mid-sentence at his words, my body going cold.

"What?" I asked, my voice suddenly flat. Weiss hesitated, and his silence made me suddenly angry. "Damnit, Weiss!" I snapped. "What the Hell is going on?"

"She's in a hospital in Bangladesh." Weiss replied quietly.

"What happened to her?" I asked, deliberately trying to push back my anger. "Did she get caught?" Weiss shook his head, still hesitant. "Tell me, Weiss," I said, trying to remain calm.

"She was shot, Mike." My jaw tensed as I fought off a wave of rising fear.

"Is it bad?" I asked softly, afraid to hear the answer. Weiss nodded, and I felt suddenly sick.

"She's alive-" Weiss looked away. "But she's in a coma.

I paused, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, before turning away from him.

"Mike-" Weiss said behind me.

"God." I whispered, fighting off another wave of desperation. "Oh God…"

"We're waiting for more information," Weiss continued, obviously not sure of what to say.

"I have to be there…" I whispered, more to myself than to the man behind me. I opened the door and headed out to my car. Weiss was right behind me.

"What?" He asked, rushing to keep up as I practically ran to my car.

"I have to be there," I repeated, shoving the key into the door. I jerked as Weiss's hand landed on my shoulder, turning me to face him.

"You can't do that," he said. "Kendall will never allow it." I glared back at him.

"I don't care about fucking Kendall," I shouted. "This is Sydney! My Sydney. And I have to be there for her." I paused, my anger fading slightly. "I'm going to Bangladesh," I said firmly.

Weiss looked at me for several moments before nodding.

"Ok," he said finally, as I lowered myself into my car. "Be careful. Sloane's people will still be hanging around."

I nodded.

"And Mike," Weiss said, just before I shut my car door. "She'll be all right."

I hesitated, staring at the steering wheel in front of me. "I hope to God you're right."

I didn't know what I would do without her.

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So... a bit of a cliffhanger there... Sydney's in a coma... Vaughn is NOT TOO HAPPY about Sydney being in a coma. HMMM. And it's off to Bangladesh we go! Please read and review. The more reviews I get, the more inclined I'll be to write faster... keep that in mind. Just a suggestion :)